Watch a video called Exploring our Backyard, the Solar System, Part 1
This video provides an introduction to the Solar System and what it includes. It presents an overview on what you will be learning this week including information on the planets, the moon, the Sun, and other stars.
Next, we will walk over to the computer lab and do an activity using the Classworks computer software.
Find a computer and put on your headphones.
Login with your username and password.
Click on the assignment titled Fourth Grade Solar System.
Read through the first part of the lesson with the audio.
Complete all the activities.
Complete the quiz.
Raise your hand when you are finished and I will come over and give you directions on what to do while everyone else finishes.
Once everyone has finished the assignment we will return to the classroom,
For the remainder of the class, I will give you a handout
Click here to access the Scavenger Hunt homework assignment.
You will need to write down answers on a separate piece of paper using complete sentences. Make sure to read the directions and each question carefully. This assignment will be turned in at the beginning of tomorrow’s class.
The handout will also include 15 vocabulary words that you will need to either look in your textbook or use the internet to find the definitions. 10 of these vocabulary words will be used to make up Wednesday’s quiz. This quiz will include 10 matching type questions
Tuesday
Turn in Scavenger Hunt homework assignment.
Listen to my directions for the next fun activity called Moon Munching.
Make sure you have 5 Nilla Wafers, a pencil, a foldable, a handout with the moon phases
For this activity you will be biting out phases of the moon using Nilla Wafer cookies and keep a record of the moon’s phases by tracing the cookie patterns and writing the new vocabulary words below the appropriate pictures.
First fold the foldable into fourths. Open up the whole paper and lay it flat on your desk.
Take out one of the cookies, trace this whole cookie in box 1 and shade the entire circle in. This is called a New Moon and it starts the moon's rotation, or lunation.
Next, take out another cookie. Bite along the left side of the cookie carefully, until you have something that looks like a backwards C. Trace this in box 2. This is called the Waxing (growing) Crescent.
Take out cookie number 3. Bite off half of the cookie. Trace this in box 3. This is called the First Quarter moon.
Nibble along the right side of cookie number 4. Trace this in box 4- it is called the Waxing Gibbous.
Take out cookie number 5. This cookie will not be eaten. Trace it just like it is. This is called a Full Moon. It is completely illuminated.
Take the cookie from box number 4 and flip it over. Trace- this is called the Waning (shrinking) Gibbous.
The cookie from box number 3 will become the Last Quarter moon for box 7. Flip it over so it is facing the left and trace it.
The cookie from box 2 will become the Waning Crescent in box 8. Flip this cookie as well and trace.
Label all moon phases at the bottom of the paper. You may eat all of your cookies or place them back in the baggie.
Next use a computers in the classroom and go to this website
This link will take the you to a website where you can select any date from the past or in the future and see what type of moon it was or will be on that date. Select the date of your next birthday and see what type of moon it will be on that day.
Return to your desk and record your birthday and the moon phase in your science journal.
Also in your science journal, write about one thing they learned about the Earth’s moon today. Responses should be anywhere from 2-5 sentences in length and include at least 2 new vocabulary words listed on your handout. After a few minutes, share what you have learned with the person sitting next to you.
Turn in foldables and science journals.
For the remainder of the class I will discuss tonight’s homework assignment.
Tonight choose one person who has made a major contribution to space with research or great findings for tomorrow’s project. You may print out or write down information about this person to make the project easier. This part of the assignment is optional as time will be given to during class to research.
Study for tomorrow’s quiz. Use this Study Guide to help you.
Questions on the quiz are based on matching the correct vocabulary word with the correct definition and include the vocabulary words from Monday’s handout.
Next, we will walk over to the computer lab and do an activity using Kidspiration.
You may now research or continue researching information about the person you have chosen for today’s activity.
Next, you will create a mind map using the Kidspiration Software. This mind map should include at least 5 main points:
2 personal life
2 work/ research/ space related ideas
1 major event/ finding/ accomplishmentOnce you have completed your assignment, raise your hand. I will come over and help you export your creation to a word document.
Print the document and turn it in for a grade.
After exiting out of everything on the computers, we will walk back to the classroom.
There is no homework for tonight.
Thursday
Listen to all directions and break up into your assigned groups.
In your group, choose a planet in the Solar System to research and create a poster board display.
Your group will be required to use the internet to find at least 6 interesting facts about the planet of your choice. There are a total of 5 computers in the classroom with internet access, so each group will have a computer station to use. You will either take turns on the computer or break up the tasks however you would like. For example, while some students research, others will help make the display. The main focus of this activity is for you to work collaboratively and manage your time wisely.
There will be markers, crayons, and pencils provided to help you enhance you poster board displays.
Turn in all materials and wait for additional directions.
Group 1 will now present
The presentations should be no more than 3 minutes. Each student in your group must participate and speak at least once during the presentation. After the actual presentation, you can also share what websites you used. Please state why you chose a certain website and why other students would find this site useful.
If you are not presenting, you should be taking notes because your test on Monday will cover information on the planets presented.
No homework tonight
Friday
Groups 2-5 will present.
Remember if you are not presenting, you should be taking notes during the presentations. This will help you when studying for your test on Monday.
After all the groups have presented, we will begin reviewing for the test on Monday.
Solar System Lesson Activities
Here is a copy of the Grading Rubric for this week's lesson on the Solar System.
Monday
- Watch a video called Exploring our Backyard, the Solar System, Part 1
- This video provides an introduction to the Solar System and what it includes. It presents an overview on what you will be learning this week including information on the planets, the moon, the Sun, and other stars.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday